Economic Affairs Officer, P-3

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO), in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Economic Affairs Officer reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer. The Financing for Sustainable Development Office provides effective secretariat support for sustained follow-up within the United Nations system to the agreements and commitments reached at the International Conference on Financing for Development, as well as financing for development related aspects of the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic and social fields.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Economic or sector analysis:

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on developments, actions and policy proposals related to specific thematic areas of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Monterrey Consensus, and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development, especially those related to financing for sustainable development.
• Undertakes research and drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of financing for sustainable development.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, workshops and intergovernmental meetings on development issues.
• Prepares speeches, talking points and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work programme of the Office.

Intergovernmental support:

• Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies.
• Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
• Prepares inputs to statements by members of the ECOSOC Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
• Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.
• Assists in coordination of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up and its preparatory process, as well as the SDG Investment Fair.
• Research and compile UN’s analytical work to support the Chief in producing the Secretary-General’s policy recommendations to Heads of State on financing for sustainable development issues.
• Supports inter-agency coordination in preparation for the participation of UN Officials in High-level meetings on Financing for Sustainable Development.

Strategic engagement and communication:

• Supports the Office’s strategic engagement on financing for sustainable development (FfD) with key external stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, local authorities and academia/think tanks, as well as the UN system and other international organizations.
• Contributes to the communication and outreach activities to ensure that DESA’s “docking station” role on FFD at the global level, and the Office’s contributions to this, are effective and engage relevant actors.

Technical cooperation:

• Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team.
• Organizes training seminars for national experts.
• Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects.
• Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects.
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.

General:

• Serves as focal point for relevant stakeholder groups.
• Provides inputs for the development of division strategies.
• Performs other related duties as required, including outreach activities and a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of international policy-making processes and intergovernmental process within the United Nations Common System, particularly those related to financing for sustainable development. Ability to apply analytical skills and economic theories and concepts of concern to the United Nations Common System in the area of financing for development. Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
• Experience in supporting intergovernmental negotiations on sustainable development issues is desirable.
• Experience in inter-agency coordination of substantive inputs is desirable.
• Experience in organizing and coordinating high-level intergovernmental meetings, conferences and events at the international level is desirable.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder engagement is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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